Impacts of trampling on alpine environments in central Tasmania

Controlled trials were undertaken to assess the impact of walkers on untracked alpine vegetation in central Tasmania. Shrubs and shrubland appeared to be more vulnerable to sustained trampling damage than other lifeforms and vegetation types, damage that lasted at least 12 months occurred after between 200 and 500 passes by walkers. In grassland, damage that lasted at least 12 months occurred after 700 passes by walkers. Fen appeared surprisingly resistant to all treatment levels immediately after trampling. The impact of walkers was substantially less than that of horses in alpine grassland, fen, shrubland and bolster heath environments, at equivalent trampling levels. (C) 1999 Academic Press.